Adolescent & Adult Humpback Whales

Adolescent Whales

The adolescent (juvenile) stage runs from the moment the calf is weaned to when it reaches sexual maturity.

Once weaned, juveniles start to mix with whales of the same age and gender. Male juvenile whales will form bachelor pods and leave their original pod. They will start searching for sexually mature cows, female whales, with whom to mate. Female juveniles also start exploring outside their pod, but they are more likely to return to their mother.

Adolescent humpbacks begin to travel with other groups or in pairs. Before they begin mating, their lives largely consist of feeding and no doubt playing. They eat by filter feeding through their baleen plates. Preying primarily on small fish, plankton, and krill, the average humpback whale consumes 2000-2500 kg of food per day. Sometimes, whales in pods will hunt using a technique known as the “bubble net,” in which bubbles slowly released from their blowholes form a “net” to gather their prey.

Adult Whales

The adult whale stage starts when the whale reaches sexual maturity. Around 6-10 years of age, a humpback whale becomes sexually mature, ready to start breeding. Males at reproductive age are between 12 and 16 meters in length. Females measure roughly 14-15 but may grow as large as 18 meters!

To attract a mate, male humpbacks display their prowess through breaching, blowing bubbles, singing, and occasionally clashing with other males. Once a pair has decided to mate, they will swim together and move in motions like diving and rolling that resemble a playful courtship.

Breeding often takes place seasonally while migrating to warmer waters and that is what we are seeing of the beautiful mammals. This ensures their calves will be born in the warmer temperatures compared to what they are used to. Both genders start looking for mates to breed with.

The baby whale is born about a year later on their next migration up the coast. Adult female humpbacks do not give birth every single year, but typically every two or three years.

Mating also takes place every two to three years for the cow as her gestation period lasts for between 10 and 14 months.

Males produce a “song” which can last between 10-20 minutes. They repeat this for hours at a time. All the males in the group sing the same song for that season. A new “song” is produced the following season. It is not clear, but scientists think the song could be part of the mate ship.

If you’d like the chance to experience the magic of humpback newborns playing alongside their parents this whale watching season, and also the older humpbacks breaching and tail slapping, feel free to give us a call on 0412 155 814 or email us on – [email protected] You can also book online if you wish.

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Yesterday with the help of Sunshine Coast Afloat we scattered my grandfather's ashes. The crew were amazing and caring and really helped make our day special. I would highly recommend this service to anyone. Thank you again!

A Google User

07:27 21 May 18

Had a terrific day last Saturday 19 May 2018 on a 7 hour trip out from Caloundra with Captain Toby and his helpers Zoe and Dixon.
Fish a bit light on but the crew were excellent. Will return when fish start biting. Good to have room to move about. Excellent car parking instructions. Best wishes from Ian and Dylan.

A Google User

06:41 13 Aug 18

A very enjoyable whale watching cruise that doesn't take the whole day! The boat was very comfortable and the crew were fabulous. Whale watching is a group activity, so we were all on the lookout to spot whales and make some noise to encourage them to come towards the boat and take a look at us.
We filled our bellies with lunch of sandwiches, savoury and sweet platters.
It's really interesting to go offshore and look back at the Sunshine Coast landmarks from a different perspective. Places like Old Woman Island, Mount Coolum, the Buderim escarpment, Caloundra headland and of course the Glass House Mountains are all features on the horizon. Get out into the shipping channel and it's likely that you'll get to see some impressive cargo ships waiting to enter the Port of Brisbane. I would definitely recommend these short whale watching cruises ex Mooloolaba during the season. Whales are magnificent creatures and it's an honour to share the ocean with them.

A Google User

02:34 28 May 18

The members of the Warner Recreation Fishing Club had a fantastic day on board Crusader 1. Captain and crew were fantastic and the frendliest we have encountered. Great weather and a great days fishing with the Captain able to locate a number of excellent spots.
Looking forward to booking again.

A Google User

01:05 30 Jul 18

The staff were fantastic, they made the trip something to remember. It was a real pleasure to be on the water, I would definitely recommend this charter for everyone.